Workman&#39;s time-recorder.



Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

4 sums-sum 1.

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P. J. TRAN & P. GAIS.

- WQRKMANS TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C(L, WASHINGTON, D. c.

F.. J. TRAN 81: PL GAIS. WO-RKMAN'S TIME RECORDER.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. J. TRAN & F. GAIS.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

Patented )0t.7,1913..

4 SHEETS-SHEBT'3.

212256388. QWSVL COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D C

P. J. TRAN & P. GAIS.

WORKMAN'S TIME RECORDER. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

1,074,822; Patented 0015;?11913'.

4 smug-SHEET 4.

Wiesses.

Zavemiars.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-.WASHINGTON. 11c

cured a clock mechanism 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK z. TRAN, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND FRANK CAIS, or DENVER, ooLotaADo.

WORKMANS TIME-RECORDER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7,1913.

Application filed July 30, 1910. Serial No. 574,616.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FRANKJ. TRAN and FRANK Cars, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Cleveland, county of Guyahoga, and State of Ohio, and Denver, county of Denver, and State of Colorado, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vorkmens Time-Recorders, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

Our invention relates to time recorders, and in particular to that class of recorders which print the time upon a card inserted into the machine, each workman being supplied with an individual card.

The general object of the invention is to provide means for accurately positioning the card relatively to the time printing mechanism, and to do so by time-controlled mechanism.

Other objects of the invent-ion will appear from the detailed description.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawingsz-Figure 1 is a plan of our improved recorder with its inclosing box shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof, partly in section;- Fig. 4: is a broken plan view with the printing mechanism and certain other parts removed; Fig. 5 is a broken perspec tive view of a shaft and sleeve entering into the construction; Fig. 6 is a detailed elevation of a catch mechanism; Fig. '7 is a broken sectional view of a detail; Figs. 8 and 9 are elevations of dials used on the front of the box.

The recorder comprises a support made up of two substantially parallel side members 1 and 2, and to the front member 1 is se- This clock may be of any suitable type, the only necessity being that it drive the clock spindle l. An open frame 5, composed of two parallel side plates, is pivotally mounted so that it turns about the clock spindle 1 as an axis. The minute printing wheel 6, and the hour printing wheel 7 are carried on spindles jour naled in the frame 5. A set of gears 8 transmit motion from clock spindle A to the spindle of the minute wheel 6, and by means of a star wheel the hour wheel 7 is caused to revolve by a step-by-step movement. Pin 52 resting on spring 51 normally retains the printing wheel above the platen 9.

Disposed below the time-printing mechanism, a record holder or platen 9 is held in the supports 1 and 2 and is free to movehorizontally transversely of the axis of the type wheels. A weight 43, by a connecting cord 72, tends to move the platen 9 toward the clock mechanism. A shaft 11 is dis posed below the platen and is provided with a plurality of staggered pins 12, and the shaft is driven from the clock spindle A by means of one gear 8, pinionA'S, gear 19, and a train of gears 10. A lever 13 is pivoted at 1 1 on the under side of the platen and at its inner end is formed with a slot 15 which embraces the shaft 11, the slot being wide enough to pass ovei one of the pins 12 when the pin. is alined with the slot. A spring 7 3 holds lever 13 to shaft 11.

Secured to the gear 49, which is driven by pinion 4-8 and the gearv 8 secured to the clock spindle 4, is a disk 16. The disk 16 is provided with an annular series of holes so that at selected places on its periphery segmental gears 17 may be secured. The segmental gears 17, during revolution of the disk 16, mesh with a pinion 50, which in turn rotates a cam 18, and the cam'18 intermittently rotates a star wheel 19, which by means of gears 20, shaft 21, and gears 22, causes an intermittent rotation of the shaft A l and sleeve 28. The sleeve 23 is horizontally disposed and extends rearwardly behind the platen 9, and it is so arranged that the uppermost side of the sleeve 28 is in the same plane with the supporting surface of the platen 9. The sleeve 23 is formed with a radial projection 24 on each of its flat sides, these projections being successively further removed from the inner end of the sleeve.

The whole mechanism which has been described, is disposed within an inclosing box 25. Near the top of the box a horizontal shaft 26 is journaled in the front and rear sides of the box, and at its rear end the shaft 26 has rigidly secured to it a barrel 27, provided with a helical slot 28. Secured to the front end of th shaft 26, outside of the box,

is a pointer 31, while inside of the box, an arm 37 is rigidly secured to the shaft 26 and aspiring 33 connects the outer end of the arm 37 with a fixed member. The rear end of the sleeve 23 is formed with a groove 30 and a lever 29 is journaled between its ends in a bracket secured to the box, one end of the lever 29 engaging the groove 30 and the other end engaging the slot 28. The sleeve 23 is slidably and non-rotatably mounted on shaft 44..

An arm 32 is rigidly secured to the shaft 26 at its front end but inside of the box, and on the inside of the front wall of the box, are pivotally secured two crossed catches 33 and a spring tends to pull the two upper ends of these catches together. A bell crank lever 34, having a projection extending between the two lower ends of the catches 33, is secured to the front wall of the box, and a pivoted projection 35 at its other end lies in the path of a projection 36 carried by the post 4-6.

The operation of the recorder is as follows: The clock mechanism is constantly rotating the shaft 11 and is intermittently rotating the sleeve 23, and is also rotating the time printing wheels 6 and 7. If new a workman enters the shop he inserts his card into the card-holder until its farther insertion is stopped by one of the projections 2.4 on the sleeve 23. It is contemplated that this sleeve will be rotated at intervals to correspond with the desired in and out periods of the day. Consequently when the workman inserts the card as far as it will. go, the time-printing wheels will be directly above the space assigned to the specific in or out period at which he is recording. The card holder or platen is moved from right to left by successive movements and these movements are allowed at stated intervals, when the clock mechanism has so ro tated the shaft 11 that one of the pins thereon is alined with the slotin the lever 13. This movement, it is contemplated, will take place once each day so that when the work man inserts his card in the holder, it is positioned by the time mechanism, so that the correct space for a specific day will lie immediately below the timeprinting wheels. lherefore, when a workman inserts his card, it is positioned in two rectangularly related directions below the time-printing wheels by time mechanism. After the card is so inserted, the workman lifts the frame 5, which carries the printing wheels, by means of the handle 45 and post 45. Pivotally secured to post 45 is a dog 47, which engages the frame 5. Vi hen the frame reaches a certain height, it falls from dog 47 by gravity, and by means of an interposed carbon ribbon it imprints the hour and minute figures in the correct space on the card and the card is then withdrawn. 'The pivotal mounting of dog 47 allows it and the post to descend again past frame 5. It may be that a workman may wish to record his entrance or his exit after the sleeve 23 has been rotated by the time mechanism, that is, after the regular time for such entrance or exit has passed. In such instance, the workman may turn the pointer 31 to one side or the other of the dial 39. This rotates the barrel 2? which, by means of the helical slot 28, rod 29, and groove 30, slides the sleeve 23 forward or backward as the case may be, so that upon insertion of the card in the holder it will be correctly positioned to record in the in or out space despite the fact that it had been differently set by the time mechanism. d hen the workman then raises the printing frame the projection 36 carried by the post pushes past the pivoted end 35 of the lever but upon its descent, it rocks the lever 34 which forces apart the upper ends of the catches 33 and allows the arm 32 to pass back to its normal position. lVhen this arm is released, the spring 38 draws down the arm 37 which rotates the barrel 27 and returns the sleeve 23 to its normal position as set by the time mechanism. An indicator 40 is secured to the front side of the box 25 in order to indicate the position of the platen 9, and pointers 41 and 4-2, in connection with suitable dials, similarly indicate the positions of the shaft 11 and sleeve 23.

Unless some means is provided for securing the minute printing. wheel against vibration, its imprint may be blurred. A ring 53 is therefore rigidly secured to the minute printing wheel 6, and is provided on its rim with a plurality of holes, one opposite each minute designated. A vertically reciprocable plunger 54L is held within the ring 53, and may be raised by actuation of a lever which is pivoted at a fixed point rela tively to the frame 5. A bar spring 57 secured to the post 46 contacts with the under side of a projection 56 secured to lever 55. Consequently when handle 45 is raised the spring actuates the lever and throws the plunger into one of the holes before the time-printing wheels are raised, and the plunger is not withdrawn from the hole until after the printing wheels have fallen and the handle is released. A novel feed for the printing ribbon is also provided. The printing ribbon is wound on two spools 58 journaled in the frame 5 and extending through slots in the front side thereof. To the front ends of the two spools are secured pinions 59 which aresupported from a rock ing beam 60. Secured to the front of frame 5 adjacent to each spool 58, is a ratchet wheel (31 on the rear face of which is secured a pinion 62 adapted respectively to mesh with pinion 59. A horizontal reciprocable bar 63 is secured to the front of frame 5 and carries pawls 64 which engage the ratchet and on the outside of the frame two arms 71 connect these rock shafts slidably with beam 60. This mechanism advances the printing ribbon from one spool to another one step each time the printing device is operated. The bell-crank lever reciprocates the bar which works the ratchet. The ribbon will be wound upon that spool whose pinion is in engagement with the corresponding pinon secured to one of the ratchets, the other pinion rotating idly. lVhen the ribbon has substantially all been woundonto one of the spools, it presses upwardly on one of the levers 66 which rocks lever 71 and hence the beam 60 and throws the pinion on the full spool out of gear and throws the other one in. The feed of the ribbon is then reversed. Pivoted to the ends of beam 60 are two catches 67 which engage with two levers 68 whose inner ends may be depressed by a slide 69. The slide 69 is depressed by a proj ection 70 secured thereto which engages with a relatively fixed projection. When the projection 70 is depressed, the outer ends of levers 68 slightly raise catches 67 and hence the beam is rocked slightly; thisrocking is not sufficient to throw the pinion in or out of gear, but is sufficient by means of arms 71 and the rock shafts to rock the levers 66 justout of contact with the ribbon sothat its movement may be unimpeded.

Other'modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the: equivalent of such stated means be employed.

lVe therefore particularly polnt out and distinctly claim as our invention l ,1. In a time recorder, the combination of a time printing device, a relatively movable platen designed toreceive the article to be printed on, a time-controlled rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angularly disposed relatively to each other, and means connecting said platen with said shaft, said project-ions and said means cooperating to allow successive movements of the platen.

2. In a time recorder, the combination of a time printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, means tending to so move said platen, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft, a

plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angularly disposed relatively to each other, and a member secured to said platen and transversely engaging said shaft, said memher being provided with a slot adapted to allow movement of the member past one of said projections when alined therewith.

3. In a time recorder, the combination of a time printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, means tending to so move said platen, a time-controlled rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angularly disposed relatively to each other, and a member secured to said platen and transversely engaging said shaft, said member being provided with a slot adapted to allow movement of the member past one of said projections when alined therewith, and said member being movable out of engagement with said shaft.

4. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device rotatable on a hori zontal axis, time-controlled means for rotating said device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on and movable transversely of the axis of said device, a time-controlled rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angularly disposed relatively to each other, and means connecting said platen with said shaft, said projections and said means cooperating to allow successive movements of the platen.

5. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, time-controlled means for regulating movement of the platen, and timecontrolled means for regulating the position of said article on said platen relatively to said device.

6. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a time-controlled member allowing successive movements of the platen, and time-controlled means allowing said article to be placed in successive positions on said platen relatively to said device.

7. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a relatively movable plat-en designed to receive the article to be printed on, a time-controlled rotatable shaft, a plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angularly disposed relatively to each other, means connecting said platen with said shaft, said projections and said means cooperating to allow successive movements of the platen, a second time-controlled rotatable shaft disposed transversely of the first shaft and alined with said platen, and

a plurality of spaced projections on said 7 on said shaft allowing said article to be placed in successive positions on said platen relatively to said device, and means for shifting said last-named means from its time controlled position.

9. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a time controlled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a plurality of spaced projections on said shaft angular-1y disposed relatively to each other, and means for shifting said projections from their time-controlled position.

10. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to rece've the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve sli'dable on said shaft and provided with a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other, and means for sliding said sleeve.

11. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve slidable on said shaft and provided with a circumferential groove and with a plurality of spaced projections angnlarly disposed relatively to each other, a second shaft parallel to said sleeve and provided with a helical slot, and a rod pivoted between its ends and engaging said groove and said slot.

12. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve slidable on said shaft and provided with a circumferential groove and with a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other, a second shaft parallel to said sleeve and provided with a helical slot, a rod pivoted between its ends and engaging said groove and said slot, and a spring restraining rotation of the second shaft.

18. In a time recorder, the con'ibination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve slidable on shaft and provided with a circumferential groove and vith a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other, a second shaft parallel to said sleeve and provided with a helical slot, a rod pivoted between its ends and engaging said groove and said slot, a spring restraining rotation of the second shaft, and means for retaining the second shaft in rotated position until released by actuation of the time printing device. 1

14. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve slidable on said shaft and provided with a circumferential groove and with a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other, a second shaft parallel to said sleeve and provided with a helical slot, a rod pivoted between its ends and engaging said groove and said slot, a spring rest-raining rotation of the second shaft, an arm secured to the second shaft, a catch adapted to engage said arm on rotation of the shaft, a lever adapted to move said catch from its engaging position, and a projection carried by the timeprinting device adapted to actuate said lever.

15. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a timecontrolled rotatable shaft alined with said platen, a sleeve slidable on said shaft and provided with a circumferential groove and with a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other,

second shaft parallel to said sleeve'and provided with a helical slot, a rod pivoted between its ends and engaging said groove and said slot, a spring restraining rotation of the second shaft, an arm secured to the second shaft, two oppositely disposed catches alternatively adapted engage said arm on rotation of the shaft, a lever adapted to move said catches from their engaging positions, and a projection carriedby the time-printing device adapted to actuate said lever.

16. In a time recorder, the combination of a time-printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, time-controlled means for regu lating movement of the platen, time-controlled means for regulating the position of said article on said platen relatively to said device, means for shifting the last-named means from its time-controlled position, and

means operable by actuation of the timeprinting device for returning said last-named means to its time-controlled position.

17 In a time recorder, the combination of a vertically movable time-printing device, a relatively movable platen designed to r ceive the article to be printed on, time-controlled means for regulating movement of the platen, means for raising the time-printing device and means for automatically releasing said device from the raising means.

18. In a time recorder, the combination of a clock-driven spindle, a time-printing device pivoted thereon, a relatively movable platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, time-controlled means for regu latingmovement of the platen, means for raising the time-printing device, and means for automatically releasing said device from the raising means. 7

19. In a time recorder, the combination of a clock-driven spindle, a timeprinting device pivoted thereon, a relatively movable platen-designed to receive the article to be printed on, time-controlled means for regulating movement of the platen, time'controlled means for regulating the position of said article on said platen relatively to said device, means for raising the time-printing device, and means for automatically releasing said device from the raising means.

20. In a time recorder, the combination of a time mechanism, a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, means for regulating the position of said article on said platen relatively to said device, a rotatable member driven by said time mechanism, a plurality of segmental gears removably secured to said memher, and means connecting said gears with said first-named means.

21. In a time recorder, the combination of a time mechanism, a time-printing device, a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a rotatable shaft alined with said platen and provided with a plurality of spaced projections angularly disposed relatively to each other, a rotatable member driven by said time mechanism, a plurality of segmental gears removably secured to said member, and means connecting said gears with said shaft.

22. In a time recorder, the combination of a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a vertically movable timeprinting device, and means for raising said device and then allowing it to fall by gravity against said article.

28. In time recorder, the combination of a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a pivotally mounted time printingdevice, and means for ralsing said device and then allowing it to fall by gravity against said article.

24. In a time recorder, the comblnation of A a platen designed to receive the article to be printed on, a pivotally mounted time-printingdevice, resilient means normally retaining said device out of contact with said article, and means for raising said device and then allowing it to fall by gravity against said article.

25. In a time recorder, the combination of the hour and minute printing wheels, a ring rigidly secured to the minute Wheel and provided with a hole opposite each minute designation, means for raising the printing wheels and then automatically allowing them to fall by gravity to print, a reciprocable plunger adapted to enter said holes successively, and a lever adapted to raise said plunger, said means actuating said lever be fore raising the printing Wheels.

Signed by FRANK J. TRAN, this 20th day of July, 1910.

FRANK J. TRAN. Attested by- D. T. DAVIES, ROBERT M. SEE. Signed by FRANK CAIs, this July, 1910.

FRANK CAIS. Attested by-- L. M. MARTIN, H. N. DOBSON.

25 day of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0. 

